Who Represented Borussia Dortmund at the Qatar World Cup
Argentina became world champions for the third time on Sunday after a thrilling 3-3 draw with France ended in a penalty shootout triumph for the Albiceleste at the Lusail Stadium.
A mesmerising finale was the perfect ending for what was a spectacle of a tournament in the Middle East.
Qatar played host to some of world football’s true stars. Borussia Dortmund had the joint-sixth highest number of representatives at the finals of any club. But how did they fare?
Jude Bellingham – England
Appearances (Sub): 5
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Since his 2020 move from Birmingham City, Bellingham has continued his exponential rise to stardom in Dortmund. A first team regular, the midfielder is currently one of the most in-demand players in world football, and his form in Germany has earned him 22 England caps, five of which coming in Qatar.
The 19-year-old started all of his country’s matches at the World Cup, scoring in their opening 6-2 win over Iran before assisting Jordan Henderson in their first knockout match against Senegal. Bellingham was a consistent standout performer for the Three Lions before they were sent home by eventual runners-up France.
Jude Bellingham is the 3rd youngest England player ever to start at a World Cup, behind Michael Owen and Luke Shaw 👶🌟 pic.twitter.com/ZCXDSs4zBT
— 433 (@433) November 21, 2022
Niklas Süle – Germany
Appearances (Sub): 3
On the back of a disappointing World Cup defence in Russia’s 2018 finals, the Germany were aiming for a better tournament in Qatar. Despite being drawn alongside Spain in group E, most fans thought the ‘DFB-Team’ had the ability to get past Japan and Costa Rica and reach the knockouts.
Süle, in his second World Cup finals, was deployed as a right-back in their damaging opening game defeat to Japan, in which former BVB man Ilkay Gundogan was his side’s only goalscorer. After returning to his favoured position in the middle of the defence, things improved for both the 27-year-old and the team, but that couldn’t prevent them from another early exit.
Nico Schlotterbeck – Germany
Appearances (Sub): 2 (1)
Manager Hansi Flick trusted the promising Schlotterbeck to start Germany’s opening game but despite a largely solid display, the former Freiburg man was sacrificed as his teammate Süle was brought back into the centre-back position for their remaining games.
Youssoufa Moukoko – Germany
Appearances (Sub): 1 (1)
With an absurd record at youth level, Moukoko was fast-tracked to the senior national team, making his debut just days before his 18th birthday, in a friendly against Oman.
The striker transformed his youth form to the first team at Signal Iduna Park; he has registered nine direct goal contributions in 14 appearances so far this season. With that and given Germany’s lack of options in the forward areas, many believed that the 18-year-old would be handed a significant role in Qatar, yet he played just one minute off the bench against Japan.
At the age of 18 years and 3 days, Youssoufa Moukoko makes his World Cup debut!
🗺️8th youngest player ever to play at the World Cup
🇩🇪the youngest German player ever to play at the World Cup
— Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig (@FTalentScout) November 23, 2022
Julian Brandt – Germany
Despite his side’s struggles, Brandt wasn’t afforded a single minute of football in Qatar by Flick. The 26-year-old made three substitute appearances in Russia and is still awaiting a full World Cup debut, despite finding his form this term under Edin Terzic.
Karim Adeyemi – Germany
Like Moukoko, over the past couple of years, the striker has established himself as one of German football’s brightest prospects. On his international debut, the 21-year-old needed just 18 minutes to score his first goal for the national team in qualification against Armenia last year.
However, like Brandt, Adeyemi didn’t touch the pitch once in Qatar.
Raphael Guerreiro – Portugal
Appearances (Sub): 4 (1)
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
In Russia, the 29-year-old played every minute of Portugal’s campaign, and saw similar involvement in Qatar. With the likes of Nuno Mendes and Joao Cancelo now competing for his left-back position, Guerreiro was still trusted by Fernando Santos to start three of the Selecao’s five matches.
He came off the bench to get an assist against Uruguay, before both scoring and assisting in his side’s 6-1 demolition of Switzerland. In the quarter-finals, the former Lorient man was taken off early as Portugal fell to a shock defeat to Morocco.
Giovanni Reyna – USA
Appearances (Sub): 2 (2)
He may have only made two substitute appearances in Qatar but it was certainly an eventful tournament for the English-born Reyna, who caught the headlines for the USMNT.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter had hinted that there was a player among their 26-man group, who ‘was clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field’. He even stated that they were ‘ready to book a plane ticket home’ for the 20-year-old.
Reyna did play the final half of his nation’s last match in Qatar though, coming on to play the second half of their defeat to the Netherlands in the round of 16, suggesting that this issue may have now been put aside.
Gio Reyna responds on Instagram to reports of him almost being sent home from the World Cup by USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. pic.twitter.com/KYgVhZc1AV
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 12, 2022
Gregor Kobel – Switzerland
Appearances (Sub): 1
With 34-year-old Bundesliga stalwart Yann Sommer still going strong in between the sticks for the Swiss national team, Gregor Kobel likely wouldn’t have expected to add to his three international caps in Qatar.
However, the 25-year-old was trusted to help his country reach the knockouts, as he started Switzerland’s final group game against Serbia, where they edged a thrilling encounter 3-2, confirming their place in the knockouts, where Portugal sent them home.
Thomas Meunier – Belgium
Appearances (Sub): 3 (1)
After playing a key role in Belgium’s third place finish in Russia, the right-back was trusted again by Roberto Martinez to take a starting role in Qatar, despite the 31-year-old seeing less game time for Dortmund this season.
Thorgan Hazard – Belgium
Appearances (Sub): 2 (1)
Hazard has made just two league starts for BVB this year, yet he was also selected again by Martinez, starting in their shock defeat to Morocco. Neither he or Meunier could help the Red Devils prevent an unexpected early exit.
At the previous finals in Russia, where France were victorious, BVB had no representatives. However, when Germany brought it home from Brazil back in 2014, they had four winners: Kevin Grosskreutz, Mats Hummels, Erik Durm and Roman Weidenfeller.
There were no winners for Dortmund in Qatar but some promising tournaments nonetheless. Will a winner return to Signal Iduna Park from the 2026 finals in North America? Perhaps the USA’s own Reyna, only time will tell.
